Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a multidisciplinary, evidence-based framework that transforms perioperative care to improve patient outcomes. By standardising best practices across the surgical journey - from preoperative optimisation and anaesthesia protocols, standardised surgical management, to early mobilisation and nutrition - ERAS reduces surgical stress, shortens hospital stays, and improves functional recovery.

The intent of ERAS is to:

• Reduces variability in care and thereby reduce postoperative complications and enhance recovery
• Improve patient experiences and satisfaction
• Promote cost-effective, high-quality surgical care
• Support collaborative, multidisciplinary teamwork in perioperative medicine

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) is an internationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based initiative focused on improving the quality and safety of surgical care. Unlike administrative data, NSQIP captures rich clinical details on comorbidities, surgical risk, and 30-day outcomes across a broad range of surgical specialties.

Its core objectives are to:

• Identify opportunities to improve surgical care and patient safety
• Reduce complications and surgical mortality
• Enable evidence-based quality and improvement (QI)
• Advance value-based healthcare through reliable benchmarking

This unique two-day program will bring together clinicians (surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, allied health practitioners), QI leaders, data specialists, researchers, and health administrators from across Australia to share insights, innovations, and implementation strategies. Through interactive workshops, keynote presentations, and collaborative dialogue, attendees will explore real-world challenges and solutions in surgical care improvement. 

This symposium is an invaluable opportunity to:

We warmly invite you to attend, contribute, and share your expertise as part of this national conversation to shape the future of surgical care. Whether you’re involved in implementing ERAS protocols, analysing NSQIP data, or leading QI initiatives at your hospital—your voice and experience will enrich the dialogue.